😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,399 in Barcelona versus $770 in Ligao City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,496 in Barcelona versus $1,199 in Ligao City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,592 in Barcelona versus $1,627 in Ligao City.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 212% more expensive than Ligao City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Ligao City is 42% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Ligao City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.68€15.22
$3.58₱216
393.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1€60.3
$17.94₱1,080
290.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.66€11.76
$3.33₱201
310.21%
Cappuccino
$2.74€2.36
$2.48₱149
10.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$0.78₱46.71
257.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.69
$0.39₱23.73
402.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$1.36₱82.1
220.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58€3.94
$2.07₱125
121.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Ligao City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.84₱111
-29.89%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$1.22₱73.8
68.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.71
$0.99₱59.5
100.00%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$2.03₱122
67.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.64€16.05
$8.15₱491
128.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.56€8.23
$4.17₱251
129.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.83€16.22
$7.63₱459
146.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75€2.37
$2.99₱180
-8.03%
Banana(1kg)
$2.47€2.13
$1.59₱95.5
55.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10€1.80
$2.60₱157
-19.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.82€2.43
$1.55₱93.5
81.94%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.74
$2.21₱133
-8.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$2.52₱152
-26.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.30
$1.11₱66.7
36.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.71₱42.86
26.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.06€6.08
$2.88₱174
145.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.98€6.87
$8.12₱489
-1.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.23
$1.20₱72.3
19.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.97
$1.99₱120
15.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Ligao City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88€2.48
$0.28₱17.02
928.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.45
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.38€3.77
$0.84₱50.5
421.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.84
$0.24₱14.50
791.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.15€25.10
$2.15₱130
1255.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86€1.61
$1.11₱66.7
67.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$26.5K₱1.6M
46.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.2K
$20.7K₱1.2M
58.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Ligao City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$111₱6,678
70.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71€19.56
$33.02₱1,989
-31.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.51€31.43
$27.68₱1,667
31.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Ligao City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.6€49.59
$34.56₱2,081
66.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.37€18.40
$4.55₱274
369.67%
Cinema Ticket
$10.81€9.31
$5.79₱349
86.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Ligao City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€625
$153₱9,213
374.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K€13.0K
$4,273₱257.3K
253.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Ligao City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7€75.5
$45.25₱2,725
93.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.89€31.77
$26.21₱1,579
40.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.2
$74.5₱4,490
38.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$52.9₱3,188
120.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Ligao City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,573€1,355
$264₱15.9K
496.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$180₱10.8K
577.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,711€2,335
$583₱35.1K
365.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,966€1,693
$397₱23.9K
394.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,811€6,726
$2,446₱147.3K
219.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,267€4,535
$998₱60.1K
427.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Ligao City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,375€2,045
$288₱17.3K
725.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
6.67
-49.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 14, 2026
Last update for Ligao City: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,573 in Barcelona and $264 in Ligao City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 725% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $18.00 in Ligao City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $204 per month, with Ligao City cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Barcelona vs Ligao City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Ligao City?
Barcelona and Ligao City differ by about 212% in total monthly costs ($2,399 vs $770 including rent). Ligao City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Ligao City?
Barcelona pays 725% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Ligao City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,573 in Barcelona versus $264 in Ligao City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Ligao City?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $153 in Ligao City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ligao City – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $70.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $770 in Ligao City versus $2,399 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ligao City but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Ligao City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Ligao City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Ligao City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Ligao City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Barcelona or Ligao City?
Expats usually find Ligao City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 212% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.